Monash University has published a two-part exploration of influencer culture, parasocial relationships and feminised labour called What Happens Next? Hosted by academic and commentator Dr Susan Carland, listeners explore the not-so-shallow world of influencers and learn to challenge gender biases both online and offline.
Guests on the series include radio announcer and comedian Jo Stanley, a Monash alumna and co-founder and CEO of Broad Radio, Instagram influencer and content creator Olivia White and Dr Kate Fitch, a senior lecturer in Monash University’s School of Media, Film, and Journalism, who is a leading scholar in feminised labour and public relations.
Stanley points out that traditional media has been slow to include female voices, possibly due to unconscious bias. The rise of the internet has allowed female creators to carve out digital spaces for themselves, democratising content creation.
Stanley said:
“In radio, particularly commercial radio, of the voices we hear, only 27 per cent are females. So we are still battling with a message and a reflection of society that’s completely skewed. It’s the subliminal that you don’t notice, I think. Who do we go for as experts when we talk finance, when we talk sport, when we talk economics of any kind, science, STEM? Are we going to women very often? Statistics show that in radio, only about 35 per cent of the people who are quoted in those areas are women.”
- Part 1: Does Influencer Culture Have a Dark Side?
- Part 2: What Can Influencers Teach Us About Women and Work?
The podcast explores some of the biggest challenges of the day exploring what could happen if we don’t change, and what the world could look like if we do.
What Happens Next? was winner of both a bronze award and a listener’s choice award at the global Signal Awards.